Grain-bin



(No Model.)

Patented May 16, 1882.

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E. ANNAN.

GRAIN BIN.

No. 257,997. lPatented Mayl, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @Errori-r..

EDWARD ANNAN, OF BROKLYN, NEV'YORK.

GRAIN-BIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,997, dated May 16,1882.

' Application tiled September EJ, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be itA Vknown that I,EDWARD ANNAN, of Brooklyn, Kings county, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements relatingto Grain-Bins, of which l the following is a'full and exact description.

Inwhandling grain in large quantities it is liable to gather dampnessand to become deteriorated. It is impracticable with the limitedfacilities at the depots in large cities to efficiently dry grain. -Ihave devised a treatelevator in the sense of a building, usually itisdischarged as required.

` dii'erent modes of making them tight.

of large capacity, dividedinto bins, into which grain is lifted bymachinery, and from which There is usually a liberal supply of coldwater, ocean, river, or canal. l employ these agencies to preserve thevgrain in a manner additional to any ordinarily available. I

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the in4vention.

Figure l is alvertical section through a series of bins. The remainingfigures represent details, on different scales, but all on larger scalesthan Fig.1. Fig. 2 isa frontelevation of the top of one of the bins andits attachments. Figs. 3 and 4 and 5 are respectively side and frontelevations and a plan of the controllingl valves and their connectionsat thc top of the `bin. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and avertical section of the discharge-nozzle and its connected parts atthebottom of the bin. Figs. 8 and9 are vertical sections, showing theconstruction of the sides of the bin and two Fig.

Sl is a vertical section,on a larger scale than Figs. 8 and 9, throughtwo adjoining planks and the attached lining material on the plan shownin Fig. 8. Fig. l0 is a vertical section through the double-actingsafety-valve which I apply to thc top of the bin. Figs. ll and 12 arediagrams illust-rating different positions ot' this safety-valve. Fig.13 shows a modiiied form of this valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they occur.

The drawings represent the novel parts with so much of the ordinaryparts as is necessary to indicate their relation thereto.

I build in the elevator bins ogcompartments, which may be of theordinary size and form,

and provide for making each air-tight with an air-tight cover andvalves. All maybe alike, and a description of one may suffice for all.

Referring to the drawings, A is a bin, and B an airtight nozzle adaptedto receive the grain through a suitable spout or other connection above.(Not represented.)

C is a branch from tile nozzle B, connected by continuous pipes to anair-pump. l(Not represented.)

A valve, b, controls the passage B. A valve, c, controls thc branchconnection C. By opening the valve c and working the air-pump a. partialvacuum is produced and maintained in the entire bin A. A rapiddiminution ol: the atmospheric pressure and the maintaining of theinterior ot' the bin in that condition `for a brief period has a. greateffect in destroying the germs of vegetable or animal lit'e inthe massot' grain.

D is the discharge-nozzle for the grain, provided with an ordinarycontrolling-valve, d.

E is a branch, and controlled by a valve, c, and leading, by suitableconnections, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7,) to an apparatus fordelivering cold air.

I propose to produce large quantities of intensely-cold air by awellknownmethodfthat of compressingordinaryairso as to develop la-r tentheat therein, and conducting suchcompressed airat ahi gh temperaturethrough a pipo 0r pipes surrounded by cold water. `The heat developed bythe compression beingconveyed away bythe water reduces the com pressedair to near the ordinary temperature.- When at a later period thatcompressed air so cooled is allowed to expand,the absence of the heatoriginally possessed is made apparent by the IOO vide for introducingthe cold air without a possibility of clogging the apparatus by thegrain. Grain will not flow upward through small passages. The connectionof the branch nozzle E to the main discharge-nozzle D is peculiarlyformed to render available this propcrty, so as to avoid the clogging ofthe airpassages by grain. The nozzle E completely encirclcs the mainpassage D. The passage D is continued with its ordinary size and formdown through the interior ofthe building. A series offapertures, dit,are produced in this inner wall of metal, each inclined upward from theinterior outward, asindicated. In the use ofthe apparatus the graindescending fromV above partially fills these inclined apertures, butdoes not tlow out through them.

It is not proposed to admit'the air while the grain is iiowing out. Itis not probable that the air would percolate upward through theinterstices in the grain with sufficient rapidity to produce the desiredeffect when the grain is descending. But when the grain is held at restby the closing of the valve d a supply of intensely-cold air under apressure but little above that of the atmosphere beingintroducrd throughthe branch nozzle E Hows around in the belt represented and entersthrough all the orifices dit, and percolates through the grain therein,and rises through the grain in the central passage, D, and in a shorttime appears 4at the top ofthe mass of grain in the bin A. The topnozzle is left operi to allow the discharge ofthe airpreviouslycontained in the bin, and it should be kept open until the cold airtraversing up through the grain and esca ping at the top has lowered thetemperature of the entire mass to a sufcient degree. the supply of coldair at the bottom may be stopped,the valve at the top left open orclosed, as may be preferred, and attention may be turned to another bin.

It is common to make the walls of thc bills of wood, strongly fastenedtogether. This makes a strong and sufticiently non-conducting wall formy purpose. But it should -be more than ordinarily braced internally, tobetter enable it to withstand the slight plus pressure when thecompressed air is allowed to move up through the grain, and especiallyto endure the diminution ofpressure when the contents of the bin aresubjected to a partial vacuum, as rst described. I have shown transverserods G ot' wrought-iron extending through thimbles or pipes H ofcast-iron, having their ends anged to abut fairly against the interiorof a bin and withstand compression.

I employ peculiar provisions to make the bins air-tight and allowT forthe springing and distortion due to changes of temperature and ofmoisture, as also the changes of form obviously resulting from thechange of conditions as the bins are successively illedand emptied. `ljoin the branch nozzles or air-nozzles C and E to the main or grainnozzles B and D, so that there is but one junction of the whole to thebin. This junction is fitted with Then a gasket of rubber or analogouslnaterial, which, being strongly com pressed by bolts, insures anair-tight joint. The severaljoints in the body of the bin, and also inthe top and bottom, are stopped by a covering of air-tight materialspread as a layer over the interior and strongly fastened. I propose athin sheet ot' rubber held between layers of stout paper and secured bysmall nails thickly set along cach side of each joint.

I can make the dividing-walls between the bins of greater thickness atthe bottom than at the middle, and of still less thickness at the top,the changes being made, as usual in these constructions, by suddenoffsets. This is more convenient in the provision and application of thelumber; but I prefer to avoid sudden offsets, and to make them alwaysgradual, as indicated. Fig. 8 shows the wall of a bin lined with thismaterial nailed on without other protection. n

I have devised another mode of attachment which considerably reduces thelabor of nailing, and Ibelieve will hold the air-tight lining with equalstrength and with equal or still 'greater allowance for springing,warping, and

'down through each piece as it is successively applied, care being takento keep the work true as it proceeds. J is my-lining of air-tightflexible material.

In Fig. 9, K K are clapboards. Nails, which may be stout and atconsiderable distances apart, are driven through the clapboards K in theordinary manner. should have large heads, are driven close togetheralong each side of each joint in the mode shown in Fig. 8e. In Fig. 8nuthese nails are shown and designated L.v lIn this figure, on is a jointbetween two separate planks in the partition, or one of the cracks whichare liabe to form in the wood in seasoning.

The considerable distance between the top and bottom ot' a bin and theexigencies ot working the apparatus in a large way by numerousassistants, some of whom may be yonly imperfectly acquainted with theapparatus, renders it necessary to provide against mischief from `anexcessive pressure or excessive vacuum. A vacuum may obviously be madeexcessive. The pressure in excess of that of the atmosphere when it isdischarged from a pipe or reservoir under great pressure may possiblyrend the bin byits being applied when the discharge-valve is closed. Iemploy a single safety-valve, which is capable of relieving theapparatus from an excess in either direction.

Pis a lever load ed with an adjustable weight, O, and arranged to turnon either of the eenters p or p2. The valve is formed of two pistons, Q'Q2, of unequal size, connected by a rigid rod, Q, and united by a link,R, to the IOO Small nails, which IVs lever'P at the point `p. Thepistons work in corresponding cylinders, open at both" ends.V

The central portion betweenthepistonsis connected to the interior ofthebinA by aliberal passage; T. Two sets of oritices, t t2, are ar` rangedas shown.

When there is an exccssivepressure in the apparatus, the same, beingfelt onthe difference oi' areas ofthe two pistons Q Q2, forces` them up,causing the lever` I) to turn on its center 'p'. This uncovers theorifices t and allows the air to' escape untilthe pressure is reduced.Inthismovement the knife-edge at p2 lifts entirelyout of connection withits seat,` and it does not for the time being serve any function. i

When the parts are at rest both the knifeed ges p and p2 may bear withequal or unequal force on their respective seats.

of course, as a vacuum or plenum existsin the bin A, i i

When the vacuum in the bini becomes excessive the pressure of theexternal `air on the unbalanced portion of the large piston Q'f--inother words, on that portion ot' the pistou Q' which is in excess ofthearea ot'the opposing piston Q2-depresses both pistons and pulls down onthe link R with such` force as` to lift the weight O by turning onthecenter. In this movement the knife-edge up' moves `entirely out ofcontact with its seat and fails to` perform any function. Thismovement-the turning on the knife-edge p2 by the depression of the smallpiston QSL-uncovers the series of orifices t2` and allows a rush ot' airinward through these orifices anddown through the passage T to relievethe vacuum in` the bin. This continues until the vacuum is sufcientlyrelieved, when the parts again resume their normal condition.

Fig. 13 shows a inodication, in which asingle piston is actuated upwardby an excessive pressure and downward by an excessive vacuum, so as touncover holes correspondingly marked. Spiral springs W W2, acting on theadjustable nuts w' to2 on the rod Q, serve to v resist the force ot'theplenumand vacuum, re-

i be applied to thisforin oi' the safety-valve,rif

spectively, in opposite directions, and may be `independently adjustedby adjusting the separate nuts. Dotted lines in this'Fig. 13 show how alever corresponding. to the leverP may This is theV ordinary conditionofthe apparatus, `varying, 3

pressure and expanded, thereby producing cold A'and lowering thetemperature ot' the mass ot' the grain in the same manner` as has beenalready explained for air.

Thethickness of the lwalls of the grain-discharge passage `D maybeincreased and theA inclination ofthe apertures dit therein may be'varied.

rubber alone of` proper thickness, or a good quality of impervious paperin two :or more thicknesses alone. I propose in some cases, fromconsiderations of economy, to employ paper alone, in two or morethicknesses, when the clapboards K are employed.

Instead of extending the transverse rods G througlithimblesH, I caneffect the bracing by suiiciently stout rods with nuts bothinside andoutside of the walls; orIcan use one or morerigid strut-s ot' woodadjacent to each rod; orI can bracethe bin with braces of wood alone,strongly engaged by notching or otherwise withthesides ot' the bin.

I claim as my invention- 1. Air-tight bins provided with valves forcontrolling the flow of air as well as of grain, substantially as hereinspeciiied.

2. The grain-bins A, formed willi a strong and close.` main wall, animpervious exible lining, and afurther layer of overlapping material,asclapboards, combined substantially as herein specified. f

3. The combination, with one or more grainbins, of ti ght-shuttin gvalves for the admission and discharge of the grain, and provisions forintroducing cold air to ll the intcrstices of the grain, as hereinspecified.

4. In a grain-biii having provisions for the discharge ot"l grain, a`separate provision for the introduction of air, the apertures d*arranged to induct the air without discharginggrain, as hereinspecified.

l 5. The valve d, discharge-nozzle D,provided with the inclinedapertures dit, valve e, and airindnction nozzle E, so arranged thattlielatter surrounds the former, as and for the purposeshereinspecilied.

6. The nozzle B, for the entrance of grain, and the branch nozzle C, forthe eduction of air, combined with each other and with the bili andadapted iorjoint operation, as herein specified.

7. In an air-tight grain-bin having provisions for the introduction andremoval of grain and of air, a safety-valve opening in two directions,adapted to prevent an excess of pressure either inward or outward,substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, NewYork, this 1st day of September, 1881, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWARD ANNAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. B. MALLORY, CHARLES G. STErsoN.

IOO

